Julianne Hough vs The Thing: Hollywood.com Preview

Paramount goes totally 80’s this weekend with their remake of the 1984 mega-hit “Footloose” which could top the chart with a gross in the high teens to low twenties. The original starring Kevin Bacon as a renegade teen who wants to bring his dance skills to a small town was the 7th highest grossing film released that year raking in an impressive $80 million (about $192 million in today’s dollars). This new version will bring this story of small town values vs. personal expression to a whole new generation of fans this weekend.

“Real Steel” was the number one film last weekend and the Disney release will attempt to score another knockout against those pesky dancing teens with a gross in the $15 million range. The PG-13 futuristic action film stars Hugh Jackman as a father who along with his son bring an underdog robot boxing champ back into the ring for another shot at glory. $50 million in total prize money awaits the film at the end of the weekend.

Universal’s “The Thing” is the latest version of the horror yarn about a group of scientists who are stalked by a murderous shape-shifting alien while trapped in a remote Antarctic outpost. The original version released in 1951 was updated in 1982 by revered horror director John Carpenter, starred Kurt Russell and earned a total of $19.6 million. An expected mid-teen debut awaits this 1980’s remake.

Sony’s R-rated political drama “The Ides of March” starring George Clooney and Ryan Gosling enters its second weekend with solid midweek momentum that should land it about $7 million in the box office ballot box. The film has generated a positive response from critics and should continue to find favor with discerning audiences.

Rounding out the top 5 Warner Bros.’ “Dolphin Tale” will dive into its fourth weekend with another shot at a solid finish in the $5 million range and a total gross approaching $60 million. Completing the fish and game theme is Fox’s comedic newcomer “The Big Year” starring Jack Black, Owen Wilson and Steve Martin as a trio of avid bird watchers searching for rare birds.